In order to help facilitate the “reinvestment and revitalization” of certain town communities, the Bel Air Town Commissioners are endorsing a sustainable community application to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
The commissioners are expected to introduce a resolution Monday night, which would approve the designation of a Sustainable Community and a Sustainable Community Plan and allow for an application to be sent to the state for approval. The need for such a designation is spelled out in the resolution: “the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners recognizes that there is a significant need for reinvestment and revitalization of the communities in the Town of Bel Air.”
The idea is that the state, either through Community Legacy or through other programs, “may provide some or all of Project Financing in order to assist in making it financially feasible.”
The Sustainable Community Area is located within a priority funding area of the Smart Growth Act and the Project will conform to the local zoning code. A map of the proposed area is presented below:
Also Monday night, the commissioners are expected to approval new town policies for signing of checks and police holidays, as well as announce the dates and details of a series of upcoming holiday concerts and events.
The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in Bel Air Town Hall.
The full agenda is listed below:
Commissioners of Bel Air
Agenda
December 5, 20111. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5. NEW BUSINESSa. Approval of Policy – Signing of Checks
b. Approval of Policy – Police Holiday
c. Resolution No. 966-11 – Sustainable Communities
6. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. The MD Conservatory of Music presents Bel Air Hometown Christmas at 2 p.m. on December 10th at the Bel Air Armory. Ticket information at info@musicismagic.com.b. The Bel Air Community Band presents a variety of seasonal music at 3 p.m. on December 11th at the Bel Air High School. Free admission.
c. The Board of Commissioners is hosting its annual open house at on December 14th, 4 – 6 p.m. at the Town Hall. The public is invited to join the Commissioners for light refreshments and music by the Bel Air High School Saxophone Quartet.
d. The Downtown Alliance is sponsoring a free movie, “Elf”, on December 16th at 6 p.m. at the Bel Air Armory.
e. The Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission and the MD Conservatory is sponsoring the annual Tuba Christmas on December 18th at 4:30 p.m. at the Bel Air Armory. Admission is free.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS
8. COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS
9. ADJOURNMENT
Wouldn’t it be interesting if, a sustainable community plan had been developed for the Edgewood area. A thoughful plan would eliminate Edgewood’s image as an eyesore, or a haven for crime.
Creating sn aesthetically pleasing alternative to what’s there now would provide better utility, a better quality of life, and one where community events like caroling would be feasible there.
My family used to go caroling in Edgewood, along with several others, just a short 20 years ago. My how things have changed. Any idea how and why those changes occurred?
Short answer – the federal government’s support and regulations regarding section eight housing which created an environment where speculators bought up houses, condos, and apartments to cash in on government subsidized rent. When you don’t own the property you live in there is no incentive to maintain that property or to become invested in the fabric of that community.
andcowscanfly: When I lived in Edgewood several years ago, there were many families that rented their homes. Granted many of these families were military connected, but all kept their homes and yards in very good condition. They also participated in the community. They cared about their neighbors and what people thought of them. Has this all changed as a result of the section 8 program?
Maybe not entirely, but section 8 was the impetus for the major changes experienced in the Edgewood community and continues to be a significant impediment to improving conditions there.
Unfortunately I can tell you exactly how they occurred. I moved to edgewood in 1988. My family used to enjoy the same thing. Trick or treat at Halloween with the kids, Christmas caroling, being able to leave the door open, etc…
In 1992 Harford County accepted a very large portion of those people dislocated from Murphy homes the high rise projects from Baltimore City that was torn down making way for the development of Johns Hopkins and surrounding communities there.
Harford County had no plan to accept that large a number of people from the projects. It would appear that the attraction was the large amount of federally subsidized housing income more commonly known as section 8.
The 1st recognition of a serious problem. That fall mid November a teenaged girl froze to death after large consumption of alcohol. Her so called new found frriends took her over into a field and left her there during, shorty after or as result of activities at a party.
I told my wife there would be etrouble from then on.
There is such a thing as acculturation. It’s the assimilation into the folkways and mores of a group community or society. It has to be learned, it can be learned by anyone, and is learned by most. However, if, you just have a mass migration of any group or demographic with out a plan for implentation then you will not have smooth and congruous social interaction or acculturation into that community.
So, what should have been included in an Edgewood plan that would have allowed Edgewood to avoid this unfortunate circumstance.
Capping the number of section 8 inhabitants allowed in any one area.
One failure was that of local elected officials, community leaders, and clergy not recognizing the potential causes for fallout. Therefore, they should have had a focused effort to steer young and lesser educated adults to Harofd County’s venues that offer continuing educational development. That should have been done as well as partnering with the business community to trying to meet its’ needs along with a plan for future growth and expansion.
Now, continuing education should be viewed in a broad context because not only do I mean academic education as far as sciences but, I am referring to cultural education as well. The history of Edgewood, Harford County it’s natural attributes (wetlands, proximity to the Gunpowder, Susquehanna, and Chesapeake. Harford County’s historical background which helps explain the county’s cultural observances and traditions.
Example, I am not from here originally. However, on a recent golf trip, having some idea where I was headed and exploring the back roads I passed the summer camp I went to as a very small child some 50 years ago. It is still in existence. I googled it, found it to be operational and thriving. That was where I first learned to swim, hiked along the Gunpowder, went to a nature lodge, learned about Indian folklore, etc…
Granted it is not in Edgewood but, it is nearby and I bet dollars to doughnuts 90% of the people who migrated here from those projects don’t even know it exist. They probably don’t even know the Ma & Pa trail exist that it is free for their exploration and use or that it’s historical context is tied to the railroad.
My daughter took music lesson (though she thought it was a chore) privately from a teacher in Belair of which there are several. And yes, there’s a cost but, all costs aren’t exhorbitant.
Now, that’s just a start but, we can talk infrastructure and that’s extensive. Let’s start with due to 95 that Rt. 40 no longer a primary trucking route along Edgewood. So, why does it still look like one.
But, there’s a lot more.